in her cheek. Of course that worthless raptor would be involved. He routinely stuck his beak where it didn’t belong.
She relaxed her jaw enough to ask, “Has he made contact yet?”
“I have no way of knowing.”
“All right. My three hours starts now.”
* * * * *
It was late afternoon by the time Heather emerged from the bedroom. Waking up in a strange house left her disoriented for a moment then the previous night came rushing back in horrible detail. She used a long, hot shower to quiet her nerves and tantalizing images of Jake’s passionate kiss chased away the darker memories. He’d held her so securely yet he’d been so wonderfully gentle. Then he’d refused to take advantage of her, even though she’d all but begged for his touch. She’d been angry and hurt when he left but he’d been right. If he’d allowed her to follow through with her rash desire, she would have regretted it today.
Rather than donning one of Enya’s daring tops, Heather pulled the borrowed t-shirt on over the low-rise jeans. She brushed her teeth and ran a comb through her wet hair then left it loose to dry. She seldom bothered with makeup except for the rare occasions when she dressed up, so her preparations only took a few minutes.
The house seemed deserted as she crossed the gallery then she heard unfamiliar voices. She was pretty sure the first one belonged to a woman but the distinct rumble of a male voice brought her up short. She couldn’t hear what they said but the male voice hadn’t been Jake’s. She paused at the top of the stairs, hand on the balustrade.
“I think she’s awake,” the female said.
“We’re in the kitchen,” Jake called. “It’s safe to come down.”
Uncertainty kept her rooted in place. Who were the visitors and why were they here?
A young woman moved into the living room, a friendly smile lighting her face. With sleek, dark hair and bright-green eyes, she looked anything but threatening. “I’m Devon Lashton. Your brother sent me.”
Devon was one of the rebels. She came from a long line of cougar-shifters but Heather wasn’t sure if Devon’s animal nature had been defined or not. Devon was also the female the rebels had been searching for when they’d stumbled upon Dhane. If it weren’t for Devon, Heather’s youngest brother would still be a prisoner of the amoral humans. Landon had told her about the backers and the experiments they were running on captive Therians. Dhane and Devon might be safe from their cruel ambition, but everyone was certain there were other captives, other labs.
“How did Landon know where I was?” Heather descended the stairs, her focus on Devon.
Dressed in jeans and a button-up shirt, Devon smiled and ambled closer to the stairs. “Lexxie called Landon and Landon called my mother.” Her mother was Erin, Historian and rumored mastermind of the rebels. “Mom called me. Landon would have come himself, but your father’s men have been following him for weeks.”
“Are you certain no one followed you?” Heather loitered on the last stair. Her anxiety didn’t lessen.
“That’s why Mom called me. I’ve been staying with Ian in Snowmass, so we were much closer and less conspicuous. Ian and Jake are friends. There’s nothing suspicious about us coming here.”
Ian as in Ian Douglas?
Heather moved across the living room until she could see into the kitchen. Sure enough, a tall blond man sat on one of the barstools. She’d never spoken to Ian but she’d had him pointed out a time or two. His features were too rugged to be classically handsome but there was no denying the strength emanating from the man. He flashed a charming smile that did little to calm her nerves. She’d heard stories about the enigmatic raptor ever since she was a child. He was rumored to be the oldest Therian in America, perhaps in the world. Everyone was certain he was extremely powerful but few could agree on his specific abilities. Nate insisted he’d seen Ian
She relaxed her jaw enough to ask, “Has he made contact yet?”
“I have no way of knowing.”
“All right. My three hours starts now.”
* * * * *
It was late afternoon by the time Heather emerged from the bedroom. Waking up in a strange house left her disoriented for a moment then the previous night came rushing back in horrible detail. She used a long, hot shower to quiet her nerves and tantalizing images of Jake’s passionate kiss chased away the darker memories. He’d held her so securely yet he’d been so wonderfully gentle. Then he’d refused to take advantage of her, even though she’d all but begged for his touch. She’d been angry and hurt when he left but he’d been right. If he’d allowed her to follow through with her rash desire, she would have regretted it today.
Rather than donning one of Enya’s daring tops, Heather pulled the borrowed t-shirt on over the low-rise jeans. She brushed her teeth and ran a comb through her wet hair then left it loose to dry. She seldom bothered with makeup except for the rare occasions when she dressed up, so her preparations only took a few minutes.
The house seemed deserted as she crossed the gallery then she heard unfamiliar voices. She was pretty sure the first one belonged to a woman but the distinct rumble of a male voice brought her up short. She couldn’t hear what they said but the male voice hadn’t been Jake’s. She paused at the top of the stairs, hand on the balustrade.
“I think she’s awake,” the female said.
“We’re in the kitchen,” Jake called. “It’s safe to come down.”
Uncertainty kept her rooted in place. Who were the visitors and why were they here?
A young woman moved into the living room, a friendly smile lighting her face. With sleek, dark hair and bright-green eyes, she looked anything but threatening. “I’m Devon Lashton. Your brother sent me.”
Devon was one of the rebels. She came from a long line of cougar-shifters but Heather wasn’t sure if Devon’s animal nature had been defined or not. Devon was also the female the rebels had been searching for when they’d stumbled upon Dhane. If it weren’t for Devon, Heather’s youngest brother would still be a prisoner of the amoral humans. Landon had told her about the backers and the experiments they were running on captive Therians. Dhane and Devon might be safe from their cruel ambition, but everyone was certain there were other captives, other labs.
“How did Landon know where I was?” Heather descended the stairs, her focus on Devon.
Dressed in jeans and a button-up shirt, Devon smiled and ambled closer to the stairs. “Lexxie called Landon and Landon called my mother.” Her mother was Erin, Historian and rumored mastermind of the rebels. “Mom called me. Landon would have come himself, but your father’s men have been following him for weeks.”
“Are you certain no one followed you?” Heather loitered on the last stair. Her anxiety didn’t lessen.
“That’s why Mom called me. I’ve been staying with Ian in Snowmass, so we were much closer and less conspicuous. Ian and Jake are friends. There’s nothing suspicious about us coming here.”
Ian as in Ian Douglas?
Heather moved across the living room until she could see into the kitchen. Sure enough, a tall blond man sat on one of the barstools. She’d never spoken to Ian but she’d had him pointed out a time or two. His features were too rugged to be classically handsome but there was no denying the strength emanating from the man. He flashed a charming smile that did little to calm her nerves. She’d heard stories about the enigmatic raptor ever since she was a child. He was rumored to be the oldest Therian in America, perhaps in the world. Everyone was certain he was extremely powerful but few could agree on his specific abilities. Nate insisted he’d seen Ian
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